Lemon Basil Pasta with Toasted Walnuts

This lemon basil pasta with toasted walnuts is packed with flavor and crunch and the perfect post holiday meal.

This post is sponsored by the California Walnut Board but all opinions are my own.

I don’t know about you but after cooking and consuming a holiday meal I am ready for something easy and light but I still want lots of amazing flavor.  Today’s recipe for Lemon Basil Pasta is just that.  It uses chicken but you could even use some leftover turkey if you have it still.   If you don’t have any leftover cooked chicken or turkey just cut up a chicken breast or two and cook it in some olive oil with salt and pepper and add to the pasta.  Once the pasta is cooked, this dish comes together in minutes.

The amazing flavor of this dish is coming not only from the lemon juice but also from the browned butter and basil.   Brown the butter first, just until it starts to turn golden brown, add in the lemon juice, garlic and chicken broth.  Add in your pasta, cooked chicken and fresh basil and toss to coat.  The crowning glory of this pasta is the toasted walnuts.  They add  just the right crunch and texture to the dish along with a nice nutty flavor.

Toasting walnuts is easy to do in your oven.  Just place them on a baking sheet and put in a 350 degree F oven for about ten minutes or until they begin to lightly brown.

This pasta is going to become a family favorite.   You can leave out the meat for a meatless dish.  There is plenty of flavor and texture without the chicken.

Add this Lemon Basil Pasta with Toasted Walnuts to the meal plan this week.

5 from 1 vote

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Lemon Basil Pasta with Toasted Walnuts

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

Servings: 4 - 6 servings

Author: Leigh Anne Wilkes

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 2 cups of precooked chicken
• 12 oz. thin spaghetti
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tsp garlic minced
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• zest of one lemon
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp fresh basil chopped
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1 cup walnuts toasted

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in boiling water until tender.
2. Heat olive oil in pan and add cut up chicken. Cook until cooked through. Add salt and pepper while cooking.
3. Remove chicken from pan.
4. Melt butter in same pan and heat until it begins to turn golden brown.
5. Add in lemon juice, zest and chicken broth.
6. Return chicken to pan and stir into broth.
7. Add in basil, toasted walnuts and red pepper flakes.
8. Toss with pasta.
9. Garnish with additional basil, Parmesan cheese and additional walnuts if desired.

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Leigh Anne

Hi – I’m Leigh Anne! Food, family and friends are three of my favorite things. I love sharing easy, delicious recipes and entertaining ideas that everyone will love. When she started her blog, Your Homebased Mom, over 9 years ago she had no idea that it would one day house over 2,400 recipes and ideas! .

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Leigh Anne

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